Melrose senior first volleyball player to earn full scholarship

Ashundria McNeal, 18, is the very first Melrose volleyball player to get a full college scholarship.

McNeal says she started playing volleyball at an early age just to have something to do. And now, that something to do is sending her to college for free.

"I love the intensity and the fact that you have to be able to think the game and not just play it," McNeal said.

In fact, she has proven herself a good thinker on and off the court.

With a 4.0 GPA, the Melrose High School senior is heading to college with a full ride.

"I made history. I didn't know I made history at first but now I know and I don't know what to say. I'm speechless," she said.

McNeal is the first Melrose volleyball player to get a full ride to college. Her scholarship is valued around $21,000 per year.

Number 13 on the court, McNeal's coach says she is on top of her game.

"When you want to emulate a student, you look at academics. Four-point-oh GPA, number five in her graduating class, never gets in trouble, knows how to be a leader on and off the court," said volleyball coach Angela Long.

McNeal is very humble about her history making abilities -- a lesson she learned from her mother.

"I just tell her to stay humble and always be about others and not just self and give your best," said her mother, Scheherazarde McNeal.

Ashundria McNeal says she has given her best and plans to continue doing so in college. She says the key is to stay focused, keep studying, and never give up.

McNeal graduates from Melrose High School on May 20.

She plans to spend most of her summer at Alabama A&M University, getting ready to play volleyball in the fall.